Reel cradle



Nov. 9, 1954 H. S. PIKE REEL CRADLE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 12. 1952 Ar ivm/EY o,\ E N @w W P |..l||.|| m 5. ,N H w.. o w \)Dm m, G .ad R G ...nl w mm R .Hi M. ..1 m N ...M1 .m Q .IJIJII ...I .mm S ou 2% Nm nhl ....1 -..f m w um Nov. 9, 1954 H. s. PIKE 2,693,916

REEL CRADLE l Filed Jan.A 12. 1952 4 sneetssheet 2 /INVENTOR H. 5. PIKE ArTpA/EY NOV. 9, 1954 H, s, P|KE 2,693,916

REEL CRADLE Filed Jan. 12.y 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TURNEY H. S. PIKE REEL CRADLE Nov. 9, 1954 4`Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. l2, 1952 /NVEA/m@ H 5. P/ KE BMM A'T ron/VEV United States Patf'@ 2,693,916A REEL CRADLE Harold S. Pike, Fanwood, N. J., assigner to Western-` Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York vf Application January 12,v 1952, serial No. 266,214 7 claims. (ci. 242-54) `The inventionrelates to reeling apparatusfand lmore particularly to apparatus for rotatably supporting takeupand supply reels during rewinding oflcableslwhen.

removing measured lengths thereof from supply'. reels.

-To supply the needs in the maintenance of ytelephone communications, distributing houses keep reels of various sizes of cable in stock. When orders are received for specified lengths of cables of certain sizes, it is necessary `that the cables of the specified sizes be withdrawn from their supply reels and measured during this operation. The cables of various sizes are usually wound on reels of various sizes and the cross-sectional contours of the cables limit the sizes of the takeup reels upon which the measured lengths may be wound. The reels are provided with shafts or rods upon which they may rotate freely at the supply and be driven at the takeup end of the apparatus. reels position the shafts or rods varied distances from thuerioor. f j

It is the object of the present invention to provide anl apparatus which is adapted to readily receive and support reels of various sizes while measured lengthsv ofl cable or the like are removed from one reel and Wound on another.

With this and other objects in View, the invention comprises a reeling apparatus wherein a pivotally sup-` ported element has spaced end members with aligning pairs-of recesses disposed at various levels adjacent the outer extremities thereof to receive shafts of reels of various sizes whereby means may be actuated to rocku the element about its pivot to raise the reels singly tofsupport them for rotation on their shafts. This describes the broad vfeatures of the invention whichin-f cludes the supply and takeup units of the complete reeling apparatus embodied in my co-pending application Serial Number 266,215 filed January 12, 1952.

-The means for rocking the element in c ach un it in-` cludes supporting legs actuated into supporting positionsk prior to movement of the element. The takeup unit differs from the supply unit by the provision of addi tional features including latches automatically closed the-.shafts aredisposed and other automatic means for moving the driving roller into engagement with the reel when the element is moved about its pivot to support any: of the reels singly for rotation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from` the-following detailed description when considered in conjunction -with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the takeup unit v.

ofthe reeling apparatus.

The variations in the sizes of the 2,693,916 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 ,ice

carried by rods 11- supported in any suitable manner assisted by wheels 12. An element 14 is composed of ,side members 15, triangular in general contour and connected at -their'inner ends by a horizontal member 16. The member 16 is supported by a shaft 17, the ends of which v`'are-journaled in suitable bearings 18` mounted on thefrarne 10.V The outer or vertical portions of the side 15 have recessed members 20 to receive the endsv of ashaftw21 extending through the hub of a reel 22. Only one reel 22 is shown but the element 14, with its spacedV members 20, is capable of receiving the ends ofthe shafts 21 when extending through supply reels of various sizes normallyresting on the oor. f

Each side member 15 of the element 14 is provided with anj actuating unit 24 shown in detail in Fig.` 8.v These units are identical in structure and a description,v

of the unit shown in Fig. 8 kwill apply to both units.

This unit includes a cylinder 25 pivotally connected at 26, to a bracket 27 mounted on the adjacent verticalV portionof the side member 15. A piston 28 in the cylinder; has, al piston rod 29 Vextending through the lower end of the cylinder and pivotally connected at 30 to a supporting-leg 31. The leg 31 is movable in a hollow guide 32 and has a foot 33 secured to the lower end thereof torest upon the floor 35. A fluid line 36 conlnected `to the top-of the cylinder may be supplied withA a uid under pressure when the ends of the shaft 21 of the supply reel 22 are positioned to be received by any one ofthe recessed members 20 tending to move the cylinder-25 and the pistons 2S in opposite directions. The fluid under pressure entering the cylinder will cause the piston 28 to move downwardly moving the leg 31 downwardly, until the foot 33 rests upon the floor 35 at whichl timethe continuous entrance of the fluid under pressureinto the cylinder will cause the cylinder to move upwardly, moving the element 14 about the axis of the shaft raising the reel 22 free of the oor 35.

-Attention is now directed to Figs. l to 6 inclusive,

which illustrates the takeup unit of the reeling apparatus. This unit is very similar to thesupply unit in- 4 that it is provided with a frame 40 supported in any suitable' manner not shown and having an element 41 with triangularfside members 42 connected by a lateral member 43 andsupported by a shaft 44, the ends of whichjare journaled in suitable bearings 45 on the frame 40. The forward or outer portions of the side 42 have v on the reel shafts regardless of the recesses in whichy Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken alongthexf.

line 2-2,of Fig. l.

`.Fig.. 3. is a sectional View taken along the line of Fig. l.

plan view of the structure shown ini"` Fig 6 is a side elevational view of the structure shown Fig n4.is a top plan view of the structure shown Ain 70 series of' aligned pairs of recessed members v46 tore ceive a shaft 47` when disposed singly in takeup reels 48 of'vvarious sizes depending upon the sizes of the cables to be wound thereon.

Each side vmember 42 is provided withV a latch 50' having recesses 51 associating with their respective recessedmembers 46.to latch the shaft 47 against displacement regardless of the recessed members in which it is positioned. The latch shown in Fig. 1 is identical with the latch on the opposite side of the element with the exception that one may be called a right hand latch' and the other a left hand latch in that they are mounted oi i the outsides of the side members 42. The latches are supported by and pivotally connected at 53 to links 54, ltheinnerends of the links being pivotally connected vatSS Stg the front portions of their side members r42.

nitsnected'atvtheir lower ends to pivots i lower links 54.

in detail with a reduced portion 62 of the-rod 60 extending through avhousing 63 and a spring 64 which is positioned betweena member 65 at the upper endvr of th e-housingv and a washer 66 resting on` the shoulder of: the larger l. portion of the rod. The washer 661s"y heldin the housing 63 and the washer 65 is iixed for movement with the reduced portion 62 of the rodV 60 so,t,hat.movement of the element 41 about 'the axis of its shaft 44 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the units 56to function to close the latches 50 as shown in Fig. 6.`

The means for moving the element 41 about its shaft 44 from the position shown in F i g. l to the position shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that employed for the element I4 in that it includes -uid 'operated units 70 for each side' pivotally connected at 57 to brackets 58 sup# ported by-thel frame 40 have rods 60 which are con'-A 61 carried by the ln Fig. 2, one of the units 56 is shown member 42 of the element 41. These units include cylinders 71 pivotally connected at 72 adjacent their lower ends to legs 73 movably disposed in guides 74 and provided with feet 75 to engage the iloor 35. A piston in each unit 70 has a piston rod 76 pivotally connected at 77 to the underside of its respective side member 42 so that when a uid under pressure is directed through a iluid line 78 to the bottom of the cylinder in each unit, their respective legs 73 will move downwardly until the feet 75 rest on the lloor 35, after which the piston in each unit will move upwardly moving the element 41 counterclockwise to raise the shaft 47 with the reel 48 of any size from the floor to a position where it may be rotated.

The frame 40 supports a carriage 80 for movement on rollers 81 supported by the frame 40. The carriage 80 supports a power means 82 for driving a roller 83 positioned to engage the peripheries of the heads of the reels 48. Units 85 having their lower ends pivotally connected at 86 to the carriage include rods S7 extending through tubular housings 88 pivotally connected at 89 to like arms of bellcrank levers 9G. The intermediate portions of the levers 9il are pivotally mounted at 91 to portions of the frame 40 while the other arms are pivotally connected at 92 to their respective side members 42 of the element 41. The rod 87 of each unit S5 has one or more springs 89 disposed concentric therewith and interconnecting the rod and the housing whereby during operation of the actuating unit 70, the

carriage Si) is moved toward the reel, regardless of the size of the reel, to move the roller 83 into driving engagement therewith.

It Will be apparent that both the supply unit shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and the takeup unit shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive, have features in common including the general contour of the elements 14 and 41, their recessed members and 46 to receive the ends of the shafts for their reels and the operating means including the units 24 and 70 providing the supporting legs and feet and the elevating means for the elements. Each element is capable of receiving reels of various sizes but additional means is required for the takeup unit to latch the shaft for the takeup reels in the recesses while a driving force is applied to the reels singly to wind cables of various sizes thereon, received from the supply reels. The latching means, through the functions of the units 56, is automatic in that movemen-t of the element 41 from its normal or lower position to its supporting position shown in Fig. 6 will cause the units 56 to close the latches holding them closed until the element is lowered to position the takeup reel on the oor. Movement of the element 41 into its raised position will cause the units 85 to automatically move the carriage 80 to urge the driving roller 83 into close engagement with the heads of the reel through the combined forces of the springs 87 of the units 85 to drive the reel. Not only are the units 56 and 85 automatic in operation during raising of reels of various sizes to latch the shafts of the reels against displacement and apply the driving force to the reels, but they are also automatic in returning to their normal -positions when the element 41 is lowered to move the driving means free of the reel and to unlatch the shaft supporting the reel so that when the reel reaches the floor it may be rolled free of the reeling apparatus.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A reeling apparatus comprising an element having spaced end members with aligned pairs of recesses disposed at various levels adjacent the outer extremities thereof to receive shafts of reels of various sizes and a member connecting the end members adjacent the inner extremities thereof, means to pivotally support the element adjacent the connecting member, means to rock the element about its pivot to raise the reels singly to support them for rotation on their shafts, means for driving the reels when supported by the element, and means responsive to the movement of the element to move the driving means into and out of engagement with reels supported by the element.

2. A reeling apparatus comprising an element having spaced end members with aligned pairs of recesses disposed'at various levels adjacent the outer extremities thereof to receive shafts of reels of various sizes and a member connecting the end' members adjacent the inner extremities thereof, means to pivotally support the element adjacent the connecting member, means to rock the element about its pivot to raise the reels singly to support them for rotation on their shafts and a latch for one of the end members of the element having portions to hold the shafts for the reels singly in any of the recesses when the latch is moved into its closed position, means to support the latch for movement into open and closed position, and means aifccted by movement of the element into its raised position to move the latch into its closed position.

3. A reeling apparatus comprising an element having spaced end members with aligned pairs of recesses disposed at various levels adjacent the outer extremities thereof to receive shafts of reels of various sizes and a member connecting the end members adjacent the inner extremities thereof, means to pivotally support the element adjacent the connecting member, means to rock the element about its pivot to raise the reels singly to support them for rotation on their shafts and a latch for one of the end members of the element having portions to hold the shafts for the reels singly in any of the recesses when the latch is moved into its closed position, means to support the latch for movement into open and closed position, and means affected by movement of the element into its raised position to move the latch into its closed position, and affected by movement of the element into its lowered position to open the latch.

4. A reeling apparatus comprising an element U-shaped in general contour adapted to straddle reels of various sizes when rolled on their heads singly into the element, the element having a central connecting member and parallel spaced side members, the outer extremities of the side members, opposite the connecting member having aligned pairs of recesses at various levels to receive shafts of the reels of various sizes, means to pivotally support the element adjacent the connecting member, and means to rock the element about its pivot to raise tecreels singly to support them for rotation on their s arts.

5. A reeling apparatus comprising an element U-shaped in general contour adapted to straddle reels of various sizes when rolled on their heads singly into the element, the element having a central connecting member and parallel spaced side members, the outer extremities of the side members opposite the connecting member having aligned pairs of recesses at various levels to receive shafts of the reels of various sizes, means to pivotally support the element adjacent the connecting member, and uid operated units operatively engaging the side members of the element to rock the element about its pivot to raise the reels singly and to support them for rotation on their shafts.

6, A reeling apparatus comprising an element U-shaped in general contour adapted to straddle reels of various sizes when rolled on their heads singly into the element, the element having a central connecting member and parallel spaced side members, the outer extremities of the side members opposite the connecting member having aligned pairs of recesses at various levels to receive shafts of the reels of various sizes, means to pivotally support the element adjacent the connecting member, normally ineirective auxiliary supports normally carried by the side members adjacent the outer extremities thereof, and means interposed between the supports and the outer extremities of their respective side members operable to render the supports effective and to rock the element about .its pivot to raise the reels singly and support them for rotation on their shafts.

7. A reeling apparatus comprising an element U-shaped in general contour adapted to straddle reels of various sizes, when rolled on their heads singly into the element, the element having a central connecting member and parallel spaced side members, the outer extremities of the side members opposite the connecting member having aligned pairs of recesses at various levels to receive shafts of the reels of various sizes, means to pivotally support the element adjacent the connecting member,

normally ineffective auxiliary supports normally carried I by the side members adjacent the outer extremities thereof, and fluid operated units operatively connecting the supports with the outer extremities of their respective side members and adapted when operated to move the supports into their supporting positions and rock the side members simultaneously to rock the element about its pivot to raise the reels singly and support them for rotation on their shafts.

References Cited in the le of this patent Number 5 369,476 1,882,152 2,266,446 2,551,190

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Slaughter Sept. 6, 1887 Larmuth Oct. 11, 1932 Sluyter Dec. 16, 1941 Walker May 1, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Aug. 5, 1926 

